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Kennel owners Floyd, Susan Martin plead guilty in federal fraud case

Staff report

Updated:
02/28/2013 08:49:05 PM EST

HARRISBURG - A Shippensburg couple charged with allegedly procuring and selling hundreds of dogs to medical research facilities entered guilty pleas on Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III.

Floyd and Susan Martin are the owners of Chestnut Grove Kennel in Shippensburg. Floyd Martin pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud while Susan Martin entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The plea agreements specify that Floyd and Susan Martin are jointly and separately liable for restitution in the amount of $300,000. A sentencing date has not been scheduled.

The Martins were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft, mail fraud and making false statements. An investigation began in February 2009, launched by the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Animal Care. The Martins turned themselves in March 8, 2011, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were released, according to a previous report.

"This kind of alleged conduct constitutes a cruel fraud on dog owners and mistreatment of animals as well as showing a flagrant disregard for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's program to ensure that such animals are treated properly and safely," said U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith in the release.

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Under the Class-B Dog Dealer license through the USDA, the Martins were authorized to sell "random sourced" live dogs to research facilities provided they were obtained from unlicensed individuals, sold not more than 24 dogs a year, and certified in writing they were born and raised on the individual's premises, the indictment states.

"The indictment alleged that the defendants conspired to circumvent federal regulations, which place limitations on the number of allowable sales of dogs, by stealing the identities of multiple individuals and falsifying federal documents," the U.S. Attorney's Office release states.

The couple worked primarily with two unlicensed dealers to obtain "hundreds of live dogs" for about $50 to $75 each from sources in nine states leading them to earn "hundreds of dollars in profit" from the sale of each dog, according to the indictment.

They and their dealers falsely used the names of various family members and acquaintances on USDA certification statements "to make it appear that the Martins' co-conspirators sold fewer than 25 dogs to the Martins during any one-year period," according to the indictment.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, this particular case carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment for mail fraud and five years imprisonment for conspiracy as well as a fine.

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